Attachment for railroad flat car



April 11, 1961 l J. L. HALL 2,978,993

ATTACHMENT FoR RAILROAD FLAT CAR Filed April 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l I V L72 ma Il 7@ (f5 ATTORNEYS.

April 11 1961 J. L. HALL 2,978,993

ATTACHMENT RoR RAILROAD FLAT CAR ATTORNEYS.

ATTACHMENT FOR RAILRUAD FLAT CAR .lames L. Hall, 1500 60th St., Des Moines, Iowa Filed Apr. 2, 1957, Ser. No. 650,148

14 Claims. (Cl. 105-374) This invention relates to railroad fiat cars and more particularly to a removable attachment for positioning across the end of the flat car to restrict longitudinal shifting of the load carried by the flat car. 4

This application is an improvement over the invention disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 451,917, led August 24, 1954, now issued as Patent No. 2,819,688.

Railroad iiat cars have been used very extensively for many, many years. While flat cars possess certain advantageous features over railroad box cars in that they are less expensive and can be more easily loaded and unloaded from the sides and top thereof, they possess and have possessed for the many years that they have been used, a serious deficiency, or disability. This deficiency is that during sudden acceleration changes, such as occurs in starting and stopping, there is a tendency for the load carried on top of the at car to shift longitudinally of the fiat car, and when the load shifts it may pass over the end of the flat car and strike a load on an adjacent at car, or strike the walls of an adjacent box car, thereby causing damage either to itself, or to the adjacent car or to the load carried by the adjacent car.

While this situation has existed for many, many years and while damage to loads and to railroad equipment has been, annually, in the amount of many thousands of dollars, no successful economical solution to this problem has ever been suggested.

One reason that this problem has never been successfully solved -is that the means for meeting the problem must be simple and economically practical, and must not destroy the advantageous features of flat cars heretofore noted. Apparently until now, no invention has ever been able to meet these requirements.

Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide a novel attachment for use in combination with railroad flat cars which, when positioned upon a railroad flat car, will operate to restrict longitudinal shifting of loads carried thereby and will, thereby, protect the loads and adjacent railroad cars from damage occasioned by shifting loads.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel attachment for railroad fiat cars which is operative to restrict shifting of loads carried by said iiat cars and which attachment does not detract, in any substantial manner, from the advantageous features of Hat cars, such as free access for loading and unloading of the at car throughout substantially the entire length of the flat car.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel attachment for railroad flat cars which is operative to restrict shifting of loads carried by said at cars and which is characterized by its simplicity of operation and inexpensiveness of construction and maintenance.

Railroad flat cars are usually provided with fastening means, often referred to as stake pockets located along the longitudinal edges of the floor of the car. These stake pockets along the longitudinal edges are utilized in the practice of this invention, as they are intended to provide the sole means for securement of the device of this Patented Apr. 11, 19er invention to the at car, without resorting to modification of the fiat car structure.

According to one feature of this invention, there is provided a removable upright barrier, or end gate, to be placed across the open end of the flat car to help rel strict shifting of the loads 'carried by the flat cars, and

brace means are provided for the upright barrier which are located wholly outside, laterally, of the portion of the floor of the car upon which the load is positioned.

It is another important feature of this invention that the upright barrier means are provided with two generally U-shaped restraints, wherein the bight of each U- shaped restraint is adapted to engage the back side of the upright barrier means to provide abutment means therefor and wherein the legs of each U-shaped restraint are arranged to be attached to the side -stake pockets only of a fiat car, thereby disposing all means of connection, of the barrier means to the flat car, outwardly and laterally of the load supporting floor portion of the at car. Thus, the size of the load supporting portion of the fiat car is maintained and is not interfered with by the attachment of this invention.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds andthe features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity Iin the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation view of a railroad flat car having mounted on each of `its ends the railroad flat car barrier attachment of this invention, and Figure 1 shows in dot-dash lines one of the barrier attachments alternatively positioned at a point intermediate the ends of the flat car;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation view of the flat car attachment;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation view of the barrier;

Figure 4 is fragmentary cross-section view taken substantially on line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-section view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-section view taken substantially on line 6 6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-section View taken on line 7-7 of Figure 2 and shows certain of the details of one type of connector for connection to a flat cars stake pocket;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross-section view taken on line 8--8 of Figure 2 showing certain of the details of the slidably arranged connector adapted for connection to a fiat cars stake pocket.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure l an elongated railroad flat car generally indicated at l0, which car includes a floor l2 appropriately mounted on the Wheel supported trucks 14. The flat car is provided with longitudinal side girders l5 for providing additional strength to the car. The railroad llat-car is also provided with side stake pockets 16, made of steel or the like, disposed along the longitudinal edges of the flat car.

An attachment generally indicated at 20 is shown provided at each end of the railroad flat car. In the preferred use of the invention, attachments 20 are provided at both ends of a flat car, although an attachment 20 may be used only at one end of the car, as desired.

The attachment 20 includes an upright barrier means generally indicated at 22, and positioned transversely of the longitudinal axis of the flat car; a rst, or lower, restraint generally indicated at 24; and a second, or upper, restraint generally indicated at 26. The. barrier of the at car, and as best seen in Figure 3, comprises a steel framing and a wood facing. The steel framing includes Vertical edge channel 28 and 30, and a central Vertical channel 32, and top and bottom edge channels 34. The steel framing is appropriately secured together, such as by Welding, or the like. The wood facing, preferably of plywood,is designated at 36 and is appropriately secured to the steel framing by means of bolts or the like (not shown). Each panel of the barrier means 22 may be provided with a horizontal grab iron on the back side thereof, the location of which is determined as desired; and the end panels 22a and 22C may be provided with vertically disposed grab irons 40, as desired.

The upper restraint 26 for the barrier means includes a transverse box-beam means 42 which extends across the entire width of the barriermeans 22 and beyond the lateral edges of the barrier means. The greater portion of the box-beam means 42 is of uniform cross-section, as is best seen in Figure 4, but is provided with tapering end portions 42a, as best seen in Figure 4. The box-beam 42 is also provided with appropriate bracing webs 44, and the entire box-beam is built up of steel plate, or the like, which is appropriately welded together.

The transverse beam 42 has extending therefrom a plurality of flanges 46 which are located to extend between each pair of adjacent panel sections. Each flange 46 has a bolt 48 extending therethrough, and said bolt 48 is also arranged to extend through adjacent panel elements 30 and 28 on adjacent barrier panels, so as to provide a connection between the transverse beam 42 and the barrier panels. The barrier panels and the beam 42 are arranged so that the back side of the barrier panels connector 52 which is pivotally connected to gusset plate v -58 are provided in the two telescoped brace members 54 and S6, which apertures are adapted to be aligned so that pins may be extended therethrough to maintain the brace members 54 and 56 at selected telescoped positions, so as to increase or decrease, as desired, the eiec- Y tive length o the brace means. The lower end of brace member 56 has a stake-connecting means 60 pivotally secured thereto by means of pin 62. The specific details of the stake-connecting means 6i) will be described more fully hereinafter.

The lower restraint 24 for the barrier means 22 includes an elongated channel 64 which is of a length substantially equal to` the bam'er means 22. This channel 64 serves as a transverse beam means and is disposed rearwardly of the barrier 22, and is adapted to have the lower ends of the panels of the barrier means 22 abut thereagainst, as seen in Figure 6. The beam 64 is adapted to lie on the oor l2 of the flat car. The lower restraint 24 also includes a pair of elongated leg means, generally indicated at 66. Each of said legs 66 is constructed of a pair of channels 68 and 70 which are spaced apart, and which are secured together in said spaced relation by means of a plurality of straps 72 welded to said channels 68 and 70. n

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be seen that each elongated leg 66 is provided at one end thereof with an anchor, or connector, 74 which is arranged .to enter into and engage the walls of a stake pocket 16 that is located on the side of a at Vcar. The anchor means 74 is of .tubular construction, as best seen in Figure 4, thereby providing means for receiving a stake thereinto.

Each leg 66 is also provided with an adjustable anchor, or connector, generally indicated at 76. The adjustable anchor 76 is continuously adjustable over a portion of the length of vthe' leg 66. The anchor means 76 is adapted and arranged to connect to a side stake pocket 16 on a flat car, and the adjustability of the anchor 76 is to accommodate the connection of the leg 66 to flat cars wherein the spacing between adjacent stake pockets 16 may vary. The details of construction of the specific adjustable anchor means 76 will be described more fully hereinafter.

Regarding the connection of the transverse beam 64 to the legs 66, the inner channel 70 of each leg 66 is provided with a plurality of uniformly shaped and spaced apertures 78, which are best seen in Figure 2, and which are upwardly elongated having larger openings at their lower ends. Each end of the beam 64 carries thereina cross channel 80 (Figure 8), the outer leg of which carries a plurality of outwardly extending rivets S2 which are headed at 84. This arrangement permits of the entrance of the heads 84 through the lower enlarged portion of the openings 78, so as to connect the beam 64 to the legs 66, and then permits movement of the Shanks of rivets 82 upwardly into the narrow upper portion of the opening 78 to provide a locking connection between the beam 64 of the legs 66. A plurality of apertures 73 are provided along the length of the leg 66 so that the beam 64 may be selectively adjusted along the length of the leg 66, as desired. The effective length, or operative portion, of each leg 66 is the portion thereof between the point of connection, of the beam 64 to theleg 66, and the connections of the anchors 64 and 74 to the stake pockets 16 of a iiat car.

There is also provided a brace means, or support, between the upper transverse beam 42 and the lower transverse beam 64, which support is for at least partially supporting the weight of the upper beam 42. Said brace means includes a pipe cup 86 secured, by welding or the like, to the upper beam 42 and having a sleeve portion 88 extending downwardly therefrom, and a pipe cup 90 secured to the lower beam 64 and having an upwardly extending sleeve portion 92. The actual support is by means of a tube, or pipe, 94 which has its ends positioned in the pipe cups 86 and 90 and each maintains the transverse beams 42 and 64 in spaced relation. A plurality of such supports may be provided, and, in the preferred form as shown in Figure 3, two such supports 94 are provided.

Thus, viewed broadly, the attachment'device of this invention includes an upright barrier means and two restraints therefor. The rst, or lower, restraint may be considered as generally U-shaped wherein the restraint is so arranged that the bight of the U constitutes beam means which abut the rear side ofthe barrier means, and the legsof the U are located laterally of the barrier means and of the floor 12 of the flat car so that each of said legs extends to overlie at least a pair of stake pockets 16 which are carried on the sides of the at v car. Each leg of said iirst res-traint carries a pair of anchors for connection to a pair of stake pockets, and at least one of said anchors is adjustable along the leg to permit accommodating the restraint to flat cars having varying spacings between the stake pockets. The second, or upper, restraint also may be considered as generally U-shaped, and wherein the restraint is so arranged that the bight of the U constitutes beam means engaging the rear side of the barrier means, and wherein the legs of the U are located laterally of the barrier means and of the iioor 12 of the at rar. Said legs of the second restraint are longitudinally adjustable to vary the lengths thereof, and said legs each carry means adapted to anchor the legs to stake pockets of a ilat car. Furthermore, support means are provided for supporting at least a portion of the weight of the beam means of the second restraint on the beam means of the first restraint. The bight of the first U-shaped restraint engages the barrier means adjacent the lower end thereof, while the bight of the second U-shaped restraint engages the barrier means at a region located within the upper half of said barrier means, and more particularly at a point located substantially two-thirds of the height of the barrier mean above the lower edge of the barrier means. v

Referring now to the adjustable anchor means 76 carried by leg 66 of the lower restraint 24, the details of said anchor are best seen in Figures 2-4 and 8. Said adjustable anchor means 76 includes a stake-pocket-engaging means and a manually tightening connector slidably mounted on said leg 66 and arranged to be connected to said stake-pocket-engaging means. The stakepocket-engaging means includes a stake pocket gripping plate 98 and a spacer 100 for filling the remaining space of a stake pocket. The plate 98 has ianges 102 and 104, which overlie the upper and lower edges of one wall of a stake pocket, and a bored upstanding flange 106. The spacer 100 is generally rectangular and has a top 101, a bottom, and two elongated upright sides, as shown. One side of spacer 100 is bored and is adapted to be registered with the bored flange 106 to permit having a pin 108 extend therethrough to connect the spacer 100 to the gripping plate 98. An angle-shaped lock pin 110 is provided for extending through a bore in pin 108 to keep pin 108 in place. The structure thus described effectively connects to the stake pocket. The top 101 of spacer 100 is tapped to permit of connection of a threaded bolt thereto.

The manually tightening connector of adjustable anchor means 76 includes an elongated threaded bolt 112 which is arranged to cooperate with the tapped top 101 of spacer 100. The channels 68 and 70 of leg 66 are spaced to define a longitudinal aperture 114 (see Figure 4) in which said bolt 112 is disposed and along the length of which said bolt 112 is movable. The bolt 112 has a head 116, disposed above leg 66 and to which a control .handle 118 is pivotally connected, to permit of manipulation of said handle 118 to selected positions. Means are provided for 4maintaining the bolt 112 in alignment in aperture 114 and for transmitting forces from bolt 112 to the leg 66. To the latter ends, said bolt slidably extends through a bearing plate 122 which is slidably supported on the upper flanges of channels 68 and 70. The bolt 112 also carries a pair of spaced tubular collars 126, disposed between a pair of opposed flanges of channels 68 and 70, and a retaining plate 128 overlying the opposed iianges of channels 68 and 70. The foregoing arrangement permits of longitudinal adjustment of bolt 112 along aperture 114, While maintaining the bolt 112 in proper upright position.

Referring now to the lanchor means 60for connecting the brace legs of restraint 26 to the stake pockets of a at car, the details of such anchor means are best seen in Figures 2 and 7. Said anchor means includes a flange 130 pivotally connected to pin 62 ywhich is carried by brace member 56. The flange 130 carries a support means 132 which is constructed and arranged to entera stake pocket -16 through the upper open end thereof. The support means 132 provides a lower wall 134 which has an elongated slot 136 therein. An elongated bolt 138 has its shank extending through slot 136, and has its head 139 supported by wall 134 of support means 132. The bolt 138 is `of a length to extend through and below the stake pocket 16. A channel-shaped handle support member 140 is slidably carried on the shank of bolt 138 andengages a nut 142 that is threaded to bolt 138 and which nut serves asjan adjustment for selectively moving member 140 along bolt 138. The bight, or web, of channelshaped support member 140 carries a laterally extending pivot pin 144 on which isV pivotally mounted a selectively manipulable handle 146. There is a cam `148 movable with handle 146, disposed between handle 146 and support member 140. The `position of bolt 138 along slot 136 may be adjusted so as to position cam 148 in alignment with and below a wall of the stake pocket so that cam 148 may be forced, by handle 146, into engagement with a portion of the lower edge, or terminus, of a stake pocket, as seen in Figure 7. The bolt 138 may also be located along slot 136 so as to center yall of the parts carried by bolt 138 centrally of stake pocket 16; and this then permits of movement of said bolt 138 into and out of the stake pocket.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the `appended'claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What i claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A removable attachment for use on a railroad at car that is provided with stake pockets along the longitudinal edges thereof; said removable attachment comprising upright barrier means of substantially the same width las a flat car and adapted to be positioned transversely of the flat car, said barrier means presenting a front side against which a load may abut and a back side; a first restraining means for said barrier means including a pair of elongated legs adapted to extend longitudinally of said flat car and spaced apart laterally a distance greater than the width of said barrier means and with said upright barrier means located between said pair of legs, a first beam means connected to said pair of legs and positioned to have the back side of said barrier means adjacent the `lower end of said barrier means abut thereagainst, each `of said legs carrying first anchor means adapted for connection to stake pockets of `a at car, said legs and beam means cooperating to permit selective varying of the position of the beam means relative to the anchor means on said legs, and to thereby vary the effective length of the legs to which the first beam means are connected; a second restraining means for said barrier means including a second beam means connected to the back side of said barrier means at a region located within the upper half of said barrier means, a pair of elongated brace legs pivotally connected to said second beam means and spaced apart laterally a distance greater than the width of said barrier means and with said upright barrierA means located between said pair of brace legs and with said barrier means being located in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axes of said brace legs, each brace leg including a plurality of telescoped members providing for selective adjustment of the length of said brace legs, and second anchor means pivotally connected to said brace legs spaced from the connection `of the brace legs to said second beam means and spaced beyond the connection between telescoped members, said second anchor means being adapted for connection to stake pockets of a flat car.

2. A removable attachment for use lon a railroad flat car that is provided with stake pockets along the longitudinal edges thereof; said removable attachment lcomprising upright barrier means of substantially the same width as a iiat car and `adapted to be positioned transversely of the iiat car, said barrier means presenting a front side against which a load may abut and a back side; a first restraining means for said barrier means including a pair of elongated legs adapted to extend longitudinally of said flat car and spaced apart laterally a distance greater than the width of said barrier means and with said fupright barrier means located between said pair of legs, a iirst beam means connected to said pair of legs and positioned to have the back side of said barrier means adjacent the lower end of said barrier means abut thereagainst, each of said legs carrying a plurality of iirst anchor means adapted for connection to stake pockets of a ilat car, said legs and beam means cooperating to permit selective varying of the position ofthe beam means relative to the anchor means on said legs, and to thereby vary the effective length of the legs to which the first beam means are connected; a second restraining means for said barrier means including a second beam means connected to the back side of said barrier means at a region located within the upper half of said barrier means, a pair of elongated brace legs pivotally connected to said second beam means and spaced apart laterally a distance greater than the width of said barrier means and with said upright barrier means located between said pair of brace legs and with said barrier means being located in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axes 1of said brace legs, each brace leg including a plurality of telescoped members providing for selective adjustment of the length of said brace legs, and second anchor means pivotally connected to said brace legs spaced from the connection of the brace legs to said second beam means and spaced beyond the connection between telescoped members, said second anchor means being adapted for connection to stake pockets of a flat car; and adjustable connector means connecting at least one of said rst anchor means and the leg of said rst restraining means to provide for various spacings between stake pockets of flat cars.

3. A removable attachment for use on a railroad flat car that is provided with stake pockets along the longitudinal edges thereof; said removable attachment comprising upright barrier means of substantially the same width as a ilat car and adapted to be positioned transversely of the flat car, said barrier means presenting a front side against which a load may `abut and a back side; a irst restraining means for said barrier means including a pair of elongated legs adapted to extend longitudinally of said flat car and spaced apart laterally a distance greater than the width of said barrier means and with said upn'ght barrier means located between said Ipair of legs, a first beam means connected to said pair of legs and positioned to have the baci( side of said barrier means adjacent the lower end of said barrier means abut thereagainst, each Iof said legs carrying rst anchor means adapted for connection to stake pockets of a flat car, said legs and beam means cooperating to permit selective varying of the position of the beam means relative to the anchor means on said legs, and to thereby vary the eifective length of the legs to which the rst beam means are connected; a second restraining means for said barrier means including a second beam means connected to the back side of said barrier means at a region located within the upper half of said barrier means, a pair of elongated brace legs pivotally connected to said second beam means and spaced apart laterally a distance greater than the Width of said barrier means and with said upright barrier means located between said pair of brace legs and with said barrier means being located in a plane transverse to the longitudinal `axes of said brace legs, each brace leg including a plurality of telescoped members providing for selective adjustment of the length of said brace legs, and second anchor means pivotally connected to said brace legs spaced from the connection of the brace legs to said second beam means and spaced beyond the connection between telescoped members, said second anchor means being adapted for connection to stake pockets of a flat car; and brace means disposed between and engaged by said first and second beam means and being operative to at least partially support said second beam means on said iirst transverse beam means.

4. A removable attachment for use on a railroad flat car that is provided with stake pockets along the longitudinal edges thereof; said removable attachment comprising upright barrier means of substantially the same width as a flat car and adapted to be positioned transversely of the ilat car, said barrier means presenting a front side against which a load may abut and a back side; a lirst restraining means for said barrier means including a pair of elongated legs adapted to extend longitudinally of said flat car and spaced apart laterally a distance greater than the width of said barrier means and with said fupright barrier means located between said pair of legs, a iirst beam means connected to said pair of legs land positioned to have the back side of said barrier means adjacent the lower end of said barrier means abut thereagainst, each of said legs carrying a plurality of irst anchor means adapted for connection to stake pockets of a flat car, said legs and beam means cooperating to permit selective varying of the position of the beam means relative to the anchor means on said legs, and to thereby vary the effective length of the legs to which the first beam means are connected; a second restraining means for said barrier means including a second beam means connected to the back side `of said barrier means at a region located within the upper half of said barrier means, a pair of elongated brace legs connected to said second beam means and spaced apart -laterally a distance greater than the width of said barrier means and with said upright barrier means located between said pair of brace legs and with said barrier means. being located in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axes of said brace legs, each brace leg including a plurality `of telescoped members providing -for'selective adjustment of length of said brace legs, and second anchor means connected to said brace legs spaced from the connection of the brace legs to said second beam means and spaced beyond the connection between telescoped members, said second anchor means being adapted lfor connection to stake pockets of a at car; adjustable connector means connecting at least one of said lirst anchor means and the leg of said iirst restraining means to provide for various spacings between stake pockets of flat cars; and brace means disposed between and engaged by said rst and second beam means and being operative to at least partially support said second beam means on said first beam means.

5. A removable attachment for use on a railroad flat car that is provided with stake pockets along the longitudinal edges thereof; said removable attachment comprising upright barrier means of substantially the same width as a at car and adapted to be positioned transversely of the flat car, said barrier means presenting a front side against which a load may abut and a back side; a iirst restraining means for said barrier means including a pair of elongated legs adapted to extend longitudinally of said flat car and spaced apart laterally ya distance greater than said barrier means and with said upright barrier means located between said pair of legs, each leg being arranged to be located within a vertical plane through the stake pockets on a flat car, so as to overlie one or more of said stake pockets, a rst beam means connected to said pair of legs and positioned to have the back side of said barrier means adjacent the lower end of said barrier means abut thereagainst, each of said legs carrying a plurality of iirst anchor means adapted yfor connection to said stake pockets of `a ilat car, each leg being provided with an elongated aperture therein extending longitudinally of said leg and opening transversely of the longitudinal axis of said elongated leg, at least one of said anchor means carried by said leg being adjustable and having a portion thereof extending through the aperture in said leg yand arranged to permit of longitudinal adjustment of said anchor means along said leg, said legs and beam means cooperating t'o permit selectively varying Yof the position of the beam means relative to the anchor means on said legs, and to thereby vary the etlective length .of the legs to which the first beam means are anchored; a second restraining-means for said barrier means including a second beam means connected to the back side of said barrier means at a region located within the upper half of said barrier means, a pair of elongated brace legs connected to said second beam means and spaced apart laterally -a distance greater than the width of said barrier means and with said upright barrier means located between said pair of brace legs and with said barrier means being located in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axes of said brace legs, each brace leg including a plurality of telescoped members providing for selective adjustment of length of said brace legs, and second anchor means connected to said brace legs spaced from the connection of the brace legs to said second beam means and spaced beyond the connection between telescoped members, said second anchor means being adapted for connection to said pockets of a liat ear.

6. A removable -attachment for use on a railroad flat car that is Iprovided with stake pockets along the longitudinal edges thereof; said removable attachment comprising upright barrier means of substantially the same width as a at car and adapted to be positioned transversely of the llat car, said barrier means presenting a front side against which a load may abut and a back side; -a rst restraining means for said barrier means including a pair of elongated legs adapted to extend longitudinally of said flat car `and spaced apart laterally a distance greater than the width of said barrier means and with said upright barrier means located between said.

pair of legs, each leg being arranged to be located within a vertical plane through the stake pockets on a flat car, so as to oVerlie one or more of said stake pockets, a rst beam means connected to said pair of legs and positioned to have the back side of said barrier means adjacent the llower end of said barrier means abut thereagainst, each of said legs carrying a plurality of first anchor means adapted for connection to said stake pockets of'a flat car, each leg being provided with an elongated aperture therein extending longitudinally of said leg and openingtransversely of the longitudinal axis of said elongated leg, at least one of said anchor means carried by said leg being adjustable and having a portion thereof extending through the aperture in said leg and arranged to permit of longitudinal adjustment of said anchor means along said leg, and manual control means for said adjustable anchor means disposed above said leg, said legs and beam means cooperating to permit selectively varying of the position of the beam means relative to the anchor meansvon said legs, and to thereby vary the effective length of the legs to which the first beam means are anchored; a second restraining means for said barrier means including a second beam means connected to the back side of said barrier means at a region 4located within the upper half of said barrier means, a pair of elongated brace legs connected to said second beam means and spaced apart laterally 4a distance greater than the width of said barrier means and with said upright barrier means located between said pair of brace legs and lwith said barrier means being located in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axes of said brace legs, each brace leg including a plurality of telescoped members providing for selective adjustment of length of said brace legs, and second anchor means connected to said brace legs spaced from the connection of the brace legs to said second beam means and spaced beyond the connection between telescoped members, said second anchor means being adapted for connection to said pockets of a flat car.

7. A removable attachment for use on a railroad iiat car that is provided with stake pockets along its longitudinal edges; said removable attachment comprising upright barrier means of substantially the same width as a iiat .car and being adapted to be positioned transversely of the at car, said barrier means presenting a front side against which a Yload may abut and a back side; a first generally U-shaped restraint `for said barrier means, the legs of said first restraint being spaced apart laterally a distance greater than the width of the barrier means and having said upright barrier means llocated between the legs of said first restraint with said barrier means disposed in a plane transverse to said legs, the bight of said iirst restraint serving as a first beam means and being positioned to have the back side of said barrier means adjacent the lower end of said upright barrier means abut thereagainst, each leg of said first restraint being adapted to extend longitudinally of the at car and carrying a plurality of first anchor means adapted for connection to stake pockets of a flat car, at least one of said anchor means being continuously adjustable `along a portion of the length of the leg t'o provide for various spacings between stake pockets, said legs and first beam means providing a selectively variable connection therebetween to provide for selectively varying the position of the beam means relative to the anchor means on said legs, and to thereby vary the effective length of said legs of the first U-shaped restraint; a second U-shaped restraint for said barrier means including a second beam means connected to the back side of said barrier means at a region located within the upper half of said barrier means, a pair of elongated brace legs pivotally connected to said second beam means, each brace leg being longitudinal-ly adjustable to selectively vary the length thereof, and second anchor means pivotally connected to each brace leg spaced from the connection of the brace legs to said second beam means, said second anchor means being adapted for connection to stake pockets of a flat car.

8. A removable attachment for use on `a railroad at car that is provided with stake pockets along its longitlrdinal edges; said removable attachment comprising upright barrier means of substantially the same width as a dat car and being adapted to be positioned transversely of the fiat car, said barrier means presenting a front side against which a load may abut and a back side; a first generally U-shaped restraint for said barrier means, the legs of said first restraint being spaced apart `laterally a distance greater than the width of the barrier means and having said upright barrier means located between the legs of said first restraint with said barrier means disposed in a plane transverse to said legs, the bight of said iirst restraint serving as a tirst beam means and being positioned to have the back side of said barrier means adjacent the lower end of said upright barrier means abut thereagainst, each leg of said first restraint being adapted to extend longitudinally of the fiat car and carrying a plurality of first anchor means adapted for connection to stake pockets of a fiat car, at least one of said anchor means being continuously adjustable along a portion of the length of the leg to provide for various spacings between stake pockets, said legs and first beam means providing a selectively variable `connection therebetween to provide for selectively varying the position of the beam means relative to the anchor means on said legs, and to thereby vary the effective length of said legs of the first U-shaped restraint; a second U-shaped restraint for said barrier means including second beam means connected to the back side of said barrier means at a region located within the upper half of said barrier means, a pair of elongated brace legs pivotally connected to said second beam means, each brace leg being longitudinally adjustable to selectively vary the length thereof, and second anchor means pivotally connected to each brace leg spaced `from the connection of the brace legs to said second beam means, said second anchor means being adapted for connection to stake pockets of Ia flat car; and brace means disposed between and engaged by said first and second beam means for at least partially supporting the second beam means on the first beam means,

9. A removable attachment adapted for use on an elongated railroad 4iiat car that is provided with stake pockets on the floor thereof including side stake pockets along the longitudinal edges yof the flat car; said removable attachment being adapted to be mountable on and demountable from a fiat car without adding yany structure to, or requiring modification of, the existing structure of the flat car, said attachment comprising, in combination, upright barrier means of substantially the same width as the flat car and adapted to be positioned transversely of the flat car, said barrier means presenting a front side, against which a load may abut, `and a rear side; an elongated abutment engaging the rear side of said barrier means adjacent the lower end of said barrier means and said abutment extending across the width of said barrier means, and first connecting means attached to said elongated abutment and adapted .for securing said elongated abutment t'o side stake pockets on said ilat car, said first connecting means including a pair of elongated legs connected to laterally spaced portions of said abutmentand extending transversely of said abutment, each of said legs extending longitudinally of said flat car and carrying stake-pocket yanchor means adapted for connection to side stake pockets of a flat car; elongated inclined braces spaced laterally outwardly of the lateral edges of the barrier means and extending forwardly of the front side of said barrier means and being connected at their upper ends to said barrier means at points spaced above said elongated abutment, and second connecting means adapted to connect the lower ends of said braces to side stake pockets on said ilat car.

10. A removable attachment adapted for use on an elongated railroad flat car that is provided with stake pockets on the Hoor thereof including side stake pockets along the longitudinal edges of the liat car; said removable attachment being adapted to be mountable on and de-mountable from a flat car without adding any structure to, or requiring modification of, the existing structure of the flat car, said attachment comprising, in combination, upright barrier means of substantially the same Width as the flat car and adapted to be positioned transversely of the flat car, said barrier means presenting a front side, against ywhich a -load may abut, and a rear side; an elongated abutment engaging the rear side of said barrier means adjacent the lower end of said barrier means and said abutment extending across the Width of said barrier means, and first connecting means` attached to said elongated abutment and 4adapted for securing said elongated abutment to side stake pockets on said flat Icar, said irst connecting means including a pair of elongated legs connected to laterally spaced portions of said abutment and extending transversely of said abutment, each of said legs extending longitudinally of said iat car and carrying stake-pocket anchor means adapted for connection to side stake pockets of a flat car, said legs and elongated abutment having adjustable connections therebetween to permit selective varying of the position of the abutment along the length of said legs and relative to the anchor means on said legs, to thereby vary the effective length of the legs to which the abutment connects; elongated inclined braces spaced laterally outwardly of the lateral edges. of the barrier means and extending forwardly of the front side of said barrier means and being connected at their upper ends to said barrier means at points spaced above said elongated abutment, and second connecting means adapted to connect the lower ends of said braces to side stake pockets on said iiat car.

ll.. A removable attachment adapted for use on an elongated railroad flat car that is provided with stake pockets on the door thereof including side stake pockets along the longitudinal edges of the flat car; said removable attachment being adapted to be mountable on and demountable from a flat car without adding any structure to, or requiring modification of, the existing structure of the liat car, said attachment comprising, in combination, upright barrier means of substantially the same width as the flat car and adapted to be positioned transversely of i2 the flat car, said barrier means presenting a front side, against which a load may abut, and a rear side; an elongated abutment engaging the rear side of said barrier means adjacent the lower end of said barrier means and said abutment extending across the Width of said barrier means, and first connecting means attached to said elongated abutment and adapted for securing said elongated abutment to side stake pockets Aon said flat car, said first connecting means including a pair of elongated legs connected to laterally spaced portions of said abutment and extending transversely of said abutment, each of said legs extending longitudinally of said at car and carrying a pair of stake-pocket anchor means adapted for connection to spaced side stake pockets of a at car, at least one of said anchor means on each leg being adjustable along the leg to provide for various spacings between side stake pockets of a iiat car; elongated inclined braces spaced laterally outwardly of the lateral edges of the barrier means and extending forwardly of the front side of said barrier means and being connected at their upper ends to said barrier means at points spaced above said elongated abutment, and second connecting means adapted to connect the lower ends of said braces to side stake pockets on said iiat car.

l2. A removable attachment adapted for use on an elongated railroad at car that is provided with stake pockets on the floor thereof including side stake pockets along the longitudinal edges of the iiat car; said removable attachment being adapted to be mountable on and de-mountable from a flat car without adding any structure to, or requiring modiiication of, the existing structure of the tiat car, said attachment comprising, in combination, upright barrier means of substantially the same width as the flat car and adapted to be positioned transversely of the iiat car, said barrier means presenting a front side, against which a load may abut, and a rear side; an elongated abutment engaging the rear side of said barrier means adjacent the lower end of said barrier means and said abutment extending across the width of said barrier means, and first connecting means attached to said elongated abutment and adapted for securing said elongated abutment to side stake pockets on said fiat car, said first connecting means including a pair of elongated legs connected to laterally spaced portions of said abutment and extending transversely of said abutment, said legs and elongated abutment having adjustable connections therebetween t`o` permit selective varying of the position of the abutment along the length of said legs and relative to the ancho-r means on said legs, to thereby vary the effective length lof the legs to which the abutment connects, each of said legs extending longitudinally of said flat car and carrying a pair of stake-pocket anchor means adapted for connection to spaced side stake pockets of aflat car, at least one of said anchor means on each leg being adjustable along the leg to provide for various spacings between side stake pockets of a at car; elongated inclined braces spaced laterally outwardly of the lateral edges of the barrier means and extending forwardly of the front side of said barrier means and being connected at their upper ends to said barrier means at points spaced above said elongated abutment, and second connecting means adapted to connect the lower ends of said braces to side stake pockets on said flat car.

13. A removable attachment adapted for use on an elongated railroad iiat car that is provided with stake pockets on the iioor thereof including side stake pockets along the longitudinal edges of the iiat car; said removable attachment being adapted to be mountable on and demountable from a flat car without adding any structure to, or requiring modifications of, the existing structure of the flat car, said `attachment comprising, in combination, upright barrier means lof substantially the same width as the iiat car and adapted to be positioned transversely of the ilat car, said barrier means presenting a front side, against which a load may abut, and a rear side; an

elongated abutment engaging the rear side of said barrier means adjacent the lower end of said barrier means and said abutment extending across the width of said barrier means, and iirst connecting means attached to said elongated abutment and adapted for securing said elongated abutment to stake pockets on said flat car; an elongated beam means of greater length than t'he width of said barrier means spaced above said elongated abutment and secured to the rear side of said barrier means and having the ends thereof extending laterally of said barrier means, a pair of elongated braces each connected at one end thereof to an end of said elongated beam means, said braces extending forwardly of the front side of said barrier means and being spaced laterally outwardly of the lateral edges of the barrier means, and second connecting means adapted to connect the other ends of said braces to side stake pockets on said flat car; and upright brace means disposed between said beam means and said elongated abutment and being operative to at least partially support said beam means on said elongated abutment.

14. A removable attachment adapted for use on a railroad flat car that is provided with side stake pockets along its longitudinal edges; said removable attachment comprising upright barrier means of substantially the same width as -a at car and being adapted to be positioned transversely of the flat car, said barrier means presenting a front side against which a load may abut and a back side; a irst generally U-shaped restraint for said barrier means, the legs of said rst restraint being spaced apart laterally a distance greater than the width of the barrier 14 means and having said upright barrier means located between the legs of said rst restraint with said barrier means disposed in a plane transverse to said legs, the

bight of said rst restraint serving yas a rst beam means and being positioned to have the back side of said barrier means adjacent the lower end of said upright barrier means abut thereagainst, each leg of said U-shaped rst restraint being adapted to extend longitudinally of the fiat car and carrying anchor means adapted for connection to side stake pockets of a lat car; a second U-shaped restraint for said barrier means including a second beam References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 301,855 Bueno July 15, 1884 683,880 Higgins Oct. 1, 1901 907,183 Seaman Dec. 22, 1908 912,122 Haley Feb. 9, 1909 1,745,047 Romine Jan. 28, 1930 2,407,091 McMullen Sept. 3, 1946 2,819,688 Hall Ian. 14, 1958 

